[Anonymous]

[DerekCarter]

Hi everyone!

Just curious to know other opinions.. have you ever tried C and F class on exotic airlines like Biman Bangladesh( heard they have a B777 on the LHR route..former SQ regional aircraft ??), Kuwait Airways( tried last year ), Pakistan Airlines, Mahan Air, Egypt Air( old B777 and A330), Royal Brunei ( tried the B767 )…etc

As most of you here talks about the famous airlines..what about these exotics. They have often very cheap fares, good services?!, good seats ?! ..

[LuganoPirate]

Derek, I have flown Egyptair (before they became Star Alliance Members) PIA, Air Lanka and even, horror of horrors, Nigerian Airways. Also flown Ethiopian and Jordanian amongst others.

In every case I flew First, and the cabin interiors were a bit tired looking and in some cases the seats were probably hand downs from the major carriers. However, the service was always done with a smile and a genuine desire to be of help. Food was ok, and Gordons is Gordons whoever you fly with (though if memory serves me well PIA was dry).

I had a reason to fly these guys for either end destination or local routings, but the fares were always excellent, and in F you will often be met with a private car and escorted through C & I or to the lounge (often equally tired but comfortable).

Keep an open mind and remember these carriers are not world class like BA, Swiss etc so make some allowances and use the money saved to buy some nice presents. Do let us know how you fared.

[DerekCarter]

Hi LuganoPirate !

Yes, you’re right ! I will always keep an open mind as I like to travel and try to save money when possible. And like to try some of these airlines which aren’t 5 or 4 stars; as you have mentioned with these airlines you often or sometimes get genuine service, food are plentiful, sometimes VIP service..

Flying with Biman or PIA .. are often regarded as “stupid and a waste of money” as many frequent flyers will say…very inconsistent, lots of delay, horrible stopvovers/layovers…But if the fare and the product is okay..why not..and when you know that they tend to be inconsistent…try to cope with or booked one of the renowned airlines.

I try to get a fare with Biman Bangladesh..but most of the consolidator agencies do not have it.. Still trying my luck.. Just want to experience their C product now that they have a former SQ B777 with regional C seatings on the LHR route.

RJ or GA are just examples which show us that they can change for the best…great seats ( RJ in the A340), great service and great food.

Will let you know, if got some great fares !!

Derek

[DerekCarter]

So for adventurous travellers !

Here are some C fares with Biman Bangladesh from LHR:
Prices in GBP, agent is Bimanair.co.uk

– BKK: from 660
– HKG: from 655
– KUL: from 738
– SIN: from 743

Nice prices–don’t you think ?!

[DerekCarter]

What about for NYC fans ! Kuwait Airways great fares !

LHR-JFK incl. Taxes in GBP –in C class: 1007,- and in F class: 1391,-

Yes,..it is still possible to fly to NYC with such prices ! But don’t expect so much of the C seats..it is more a Premium Y seat (nice width but mediocre recline and legrest, great food though, simple amenity kit).
First cabin is more better ( hey for only 1391 GBP..what do you expect in F !) Seats are okay..legrest full reclinable but seatback only par
(actually remembers of the old Austrian Grand Class seat before the lie flat version nowadays), food is plentiful, cabin service is great, nice amenities as well( alright it is not those Ferragamo amenities like SQ)
but keep the price in mind ! Oh of course..KU is a dry airline !

So for those travellers who can manage to leave alcohol in C and F for a while and rather concentrate on price, great food and decent seats..KU prices to JFK are absolute a knock-out !

[DerekCarter]

Well..the airlines I found out for this trips in Asia are not really exotic airlines but more the renowned ones !

But the prices I found from FRA (incl. Tax /in Euro/ dep. in Aug.) in C class is really “exotic” :

– TG to BKK: 1879,50
– MH to KUL: 1910
– MH to SIN: 1892
– MH to CGK or DPS: 2059

The best fare I found was a quote— MH to AKL in C class
for 2459 Euro !!!

I called that exotic and at the moment a great fare for a renowned MH !!

Good luck everyone and enjoy your flights !

[DerekCarter]

I had some great quotes from my reliable agency in the Continent.

Travel in Aug ’10/ in C class / in Euro / Tax included/ from LHR to BKK

– Transaero (via Moscow): 1346,-

– Air Berlin (via DUS): 1359,-

Enjoy everyone !

[Cedric_Statherby]

I have flown Royal Brunei a number of times, though mostly medium-haul within Asia. The airline models itself on Singapore Airlines (the benchmark any Asian airline measures itself by) and while they are clearly not as good as SQ their service is not at all bad and on their newer planes quite comfortable.

Two points you will need to be aware of though – the airline is very rigidly dry, with no alcohol at all, and each sector starts with a long and eventually rather irritating prayer from a tannoy-muezzin while the entertainment screens freeze and flip to a map showing the direction to Mecca.

But they’re neither of them reasons to discard Royal Brunei completely.

[DerekCarter]

Hi Cedric,

I know BI (flown B767 and the A319/320). The C seat in the B767 is one of the worst angled flat beds I’ve tried and felt cramped. The food and service was good, there is even a “wow factor” of the single C toilet with some gold on it ! But that was it. The regional A319/320 has the usual middle range C class seat( nice width/but dreadful pitch and recline). Haven’t tried the B777 from SQ…but as BT has already reported..it has the SQ Skybed version on it. Well..at least it has one of the best angled flat bed in the market. But BI should consider to switch to a full flat bed in the future ! What I liked most when flying with BI is the possibility to take a stopover in Brunei. I liked this small airport..nice lounge, never experienced huge group of people..very relaxing comparing to big airports like LHR, ORD or LAX !!

While from time to time..medium haul fares within Asia can be really good…the long haul fares just do not justify the C product as a whole comparing to other airlines on the same long haul routes.

[fatbear]

I flew Royal Brunei a couple of years ago. Whilst a dry airline in that no alcohol was handed out by the cabin crew, they had no problems with passengers consuming drink they had brought on board. They even had a cork screw to open a bottle of wine for one passenger !

Maybe someone can confirm if this is still the case on RBA ?

[Author]

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